Postgraduate Prospectus 2013 - Swansea University

Innovative learning and teaching
Learning resources
We’re always looking for innovative
ways to add value to your learning
experience by using best practice to
enhance the quality of our teaching
and giving you more opportunities
to let us know what you think of
how you’re taught.
We already use a wide range of
methods and technologies, such as
scenario simulations, blogs, podcasts,
vodcasts, and social networking, as
well as delivering interactive lectures
using audience response systems
known as “clickers”.
You’ll also make regular use of our
Blackboard virtual learning environment,
which facilitates online learning and
teaching. Through Blackboard, you’ll
have access to course materials,
Library and Information Centre
Located in the heart of the campus, our library
building contains a wide range of resources to
help you get the most out of your studies.
In addition to the longest opening hours of any university library
in Wales – we’re open for over 110 hours a week during term
time, including Sundays, with 24-hour opening during exams
and the Summer term – we have over 800,000 books,
journals, newspapers and other printed materials, as well
as videos, DVDs and a wide range of software applications.
We currently provide:
handouts, and lecture notes, as well as
shared areas for group work, online
discussions, and exchanging ideas with
your fellow students.
Our Swansea Academy of Learning and
Teaching was established in 2009 to
provide the strategic advice and
direction necessary to ensure that we
continue to offer an excellent learning
experience, and that we make the most
of emerging teaching technologies.
• 450 PCs for you to use whenever the Library is open
• one-to-one support to connect your laptop or PC to our
wireless network
• self-issue and self-return facilities to save you time
• a range of silent and group study areas
• dedicated facilities for students with special needs
• in-depth advice and guidance from friendly and helpful staff
• photocopiers, scanners, and printers
• courses on how to make best use of our services
and resources
Postgraduate Research Skills Development
Swansea University provides a wide range of
interdisciplinary training courses focusing on
generic skills required by all research students.
We organise Postgraduate Research Inductions at
least twice a year and short courses held over the
whole of the academic year.
All students devise a personal training plan at the beginning of
their programme, to ensure that they receive specialised skills
development required to complete their programme of studies.
Courses cover areas such as:
• basic research training
• career progression
• academic writing
• IT and computing skills
• Personal and interpersonal skills
• intellectual property rights
• basic teaching skills
You can be confident that you’ll get great service –
we’re one of a small number of university libraries
and ICT services in the UK to have achieved the
Customer Service Excellence award.
The library is managed by Information Services and Systems
who also manage the IT network that you will use throughout
your time at Swansea, including the wireless network that covers
most buildings on the Singleton campus, and all our student
accommodation (including Hendrefoelan and Beck House).
The campus computer system is linked to the outside world via
the high-speed JANET network. In many respects, we’re at the
forefront of exploring the capability of such networks to deliver
multimedia, video, and other technologies that are increasingly
integral to modern teaching and learning practices.
Swansea University is proud to offer opportunities for
Welsh-speaking students and those who speak Welsh
as a second language, to study all, or part of their
course through the medium of Welsh. At Swansea,
Welsh-medium provision is available in the following
subject areas:
There are over 1,800 PCs for student use at Swansea University.
That’s a ratio of roughly one PC for every six students.
Our student network gives you:
• free Internet access
• a personal email account and filestore
• access to the online library catalogue
• the opportunity to renew and reserve books on loan
• access to thousands of electronic journal articles
• a facility to search networked information databases
• an easy way to keep in touch with tutors and other students
• access to Virtual Learning Environment (BlackBoard)
• easy access to administrative functionality including enrolment
If you have your own laptop you can connect it to the University’s
wireless network. We also have around 100 laptops available
to loan.
For further information, please visit our website at:
www.swansea.ac.uk/iss
Welsh medium opportunities
• Bio-Sciences
• Business Studies
• French
• German
• Geography
• Engineering
• History
• Law
• Linguistics
• Mathematics
• Media Studies
• Nursing
• Social Work
• Spanish
• Translation Studies
• Welsh
The level of provision varies with some subject areas offering a
whole degree through the medium of Welsh, others a selection
of modules through the medium of Welsh and some offering
tutorial groups in Welsh as part of an English-medium module.
Academi Hywel Teifi is the Centre which offers support to those
who study or research through the medium of Welsh at Swansea
University and provides information about the opportunities
which are available. Academi Hywel Teifi is also home to the
Swansea Branch of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.
The Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol works in partnership with
universities across Wales to enhance and extend opportunities
available for students to study through the medium of Welsh.
The Academi is also working to enhance student employability
by offering valuable work experience placements with
companies who conduct their day-to-day business through
the medium of Welsh. With more and more jobs requiring
Welsh-language skills, could you add value to your CV?
If you are interested in studying some of your course through
the medium of Welsh and would like more information, please
email: astudio@abertawe.ac.uk
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